EP3543821B1 - Frame for an input/output device and method for producing a frame - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a frame for an input and output device with four corners and an input and output device for industrial use with this frame, but also to a method for producing a frame for an input and output device, a frame profile being used which has a first leg and a second leg, a band being arranged on the first leg and a groove being arranged on the second leg.

A large number of modern input and output devices that have a human-machine interface or a human-machine interface (HMI) are based on a combination of a display and touch screen technology as input and output units.

Precisely because of the use of input and output devices in connection with industrial use, the requirements for such devices in the industrial environment with regard to mechanical robustness and resistance to external influences and conditions have increased accordingly. These requirements can in no way be compared with the requirements for conventional input and output devices, in particular displays such as e.g. Occur in the private environment with monitors and televisions.

Input and output devices for industrial use are usually designed in such a way that correspondingly stable and resistant housings or frames are provided for these input and output devices. For this reason, device frames for industrially used input and output devices are preferably made of metal, in particular aluminum.

There are also requirements for tightness with regard to dust and splash water. In an industrial environment, a display must be able to withstand splashing water or jets of water, for example when cleaning a machine. Often there are also requirements of a hygienic nature. The main aim here is to largely prevent the possibility of dirt accumulating on the display. Above all, grooves, gaps and depressions on the display or the display frame should be avoided.

In order to be able to meet all these requirements, input and output devices with a display for industrial applications, preferably with a one-piece frame that receives the display, are manufactured according to the current state of the art. On the one hand, these one-piece frames can be produced using an injection molding process with a mold as a tool, or they can be produced from the solid, for example by milling. On the one hand, this naturally results in very high material losses, which increases the costs for such display frames and also makes production complex and inefficient. In the case of an injection molding process in a mold for a frame, enormous costs have to be provided in advance for an injection molding tool. If you only have a small number of input and output devices with such a frame, the previously known manufacturing processes are no longer economical.

From the CN 28 449 70 Y a frame for an LCD display is known, which is composed of individual frame parts.

From the KR 10 2005 0027375 A a frame for a flat display is known, which is composed of individual frame parts.

From the EP 3 106 915 A1 a frame, which is composed of individual profile parts, is also known.

From the US 2014/055929 A1 and from the EP 2 881 781 A1 a frame for a flat display is known, which consists of an integrally formed frame profile. There are four corner elements attached to the corners to reinforce the frame.

It is the object of the present invention to manufacture a frame for an input and output device, preferably for industrial use, as cost-effectively as possible, and also to dispense with additional gaps or grooves in the frame.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a frame is provided for an input and output device with four corners, an integrally formed frame profile being used. The frame profile has a first leg and a second leg, a band being arranged on the first leg, and free spaces being arranged in the frame profile to form the four corners in such a way that the band remains in the area of the free spaces, and on the second leg a groove is arranged, a corner element being arranged in each of the corners, and the corner element having an element body with a first element leg and a second element leg, the element legs being arranged essentially at right angles to one another on the element body and the corner elements being arranged in the free spaces in this way that the first element leg and the second element leg are each arranged in the groove of the frame profile. Such a frame has the advantage that it is made in one piece and does not consist of four individual frame elements, as in the prior art. If the one-piece frame profile is bent into a frame with corners, the corners must be bent over in order to overcome residual stress in the material and thus prevent the sides of the frame from springing back. If the specified free spaces have been milled freely in the frame profile, it is possible to overbend the corners without later springback. The later insertion of the corner elements gives the frame the necessary stability.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the corner elements are designed in such a way that the element legs are arranged at a lower end of the element body and an element head is arranged at an upper end of the element body. The element body is designed on the head in such a way that it closes the free space in the corners in such a way that a flat surface for applying a seal and / or adhesive surface for later insertion of a contact surface is present on the first leg within the frame. The element head is thus designed in such a way that it extends flush to the tape and already provides a preliminary stage for a continuous adhesive surface or device seal mounting surface; this enables, for example, a tightness according to the IP 65 standard or comparable.

The band is advantageously designed as an upper circumferential collar for the frame, and the seal is arranged in this upper circumferential collar, which seals the space between the surface of the first leg and an edge surface of the contact surface that can be used later.

It is also advantageous if the band is also designed as a lower circumferential collar for the frame and a further seal is arranged in this lower circumferential collar, which seals the space between a lower surface of the first leg and an edge surface of a mounting cutout. If the frame is now mounted in a mounting cutout, the frame can be sealed off from the wall, for example in a wall mounting, with the additional seal.

The frame profile advantageously has a retaining groove with an undercut in the second leg in order to fasten a clamp in the retaining groove for installation in the installation cutout. In the case of wall mounting, the clamp would press against the inside of the wall and thus hold the frame firmly in the installation cutout.

A particularly favorable production of a frame profile is achieved by producing a continuous cast aluminum profile.

The frame shown at the beginning is advantageously used in an input and output device for industrial use.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that a frame profile is used which is designed in one piece. In the method for producing the frame for an input and output device, a frame profile is used which has a first leg and a second leg, a band being arranged on the first leg and a groove being arranged on the second leg, with one in a first step Length, which corresponds to the later circumference of the frame, is cut to length from a frame profile, and in a second step corresponding to the later side lengths of the frame, free spaces are introduced into the frame profile to form the four corners so that the tape in the area of the free spaces created Excerpts remain, the size of the free spaces is selected so that the overbending required in the next step can be carried out without any problems, in a third step the corners are bent at the points of the free spaces, the sides adjacent to one corner are slightly over one Bend over an angle of 90 degrees to avoid residual tension in the To overcome material and thus prevent the sides from springing back, in a fourth step a corner element is then used in each corner, the corner element having an element body with a first element leg and a second element leg, the element legs being essentially at right angles to one another on the element body are arranged and the corner elements are inserted into the free spaces in such a way that the first element leg and the second element leg are each arranged in the groove of the frame profile, then a remaining joint is welded together. In an advantageous manner, a frame has now been created which, in particular at the corners, has no grooves and edges, but an appealing modern design.

In a further method step, a corner element is advantageously used in which the element legs are arranged at a lower end of the element body and an element head is arranged at an upper end of the element body, the element head being placed in the free space in the corners in such a way that it is flush closes so that a flat surface for applying a seal and / or adhesive surface for later insertion of a contact surface is created on the first leg within the frame.

The proposed method has several advantages over the known manufacturing method according to the prior art. On the one hand, an elaborate die-casting process can be dispensed with and, on the other hand, no separate die-casting tools have to be purchased for individual different frame sizes. The above proposed procedural solution allows frames for front frames for displays to be produced in any size. The use of die casting tools is not necessary, so that ultimately the cost of producing a single frame is significantly reduced.

FIG 1

ein Ein- und Ausgabegerät in Form eines Touch-Panel PC,

FIG 2

ein bereits gebogener Rahmen mit vier Ecken,

FIG 3

ein sich längs erstreckendes Rahmenprofil mit entsprechenden ausgeschnittenen Freiräumen,

FIG 4

ein ausgeschnittener Freiraum im Rahmenprofil als Detaildarstellung,

FIG 5

der in FIG 4 gezeigte ausgeschnittene Freiraum in einer anderen Darstellung,

FIG 6

eins von vier Eckelementen,

FIG 7

einen Ausschnitt aus dem Rahmen im Querschnitt zur Verdeutlichung der Struktur des Rahmenprofils,

FIG 8

einen Ausschnitt des Rahmens der Ecke A zur Verdeutlichung des eingesetzten Eckelementes,

FIG 9

das in FIG 8 gezeigte Eckelement mit einer darüber angeordneten Dichtung,

FIG 10

das Ein- und Ausgabegerät in einer Schnittdarstellung, und

FIG 11

das Ein- und Ausgabegerät in einer perspektivischen Rückansicht mit Darstellung von Halte- bzw. Montageflächen.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is presented with the drawing. Show it:

FIG 1

an input and output device in the form of a touch panel PC,

FIG 2

an already curved frame with four corners,

FIG 3

a longitudinally extending frame profile with corresponding cut-out free spaces,

FIG 4

a cut-out free space in the frame profile as a detailed representation,

FIG 5

the in FIG 4 Cut-out free space shown in a different representation,

FIG 6

one of four corner elements,

FIG 7

a section of the frame in cross section to clarify the structure of the frame profile,

FIG 8

a section of the frame of corner A to illustrate the corner element used,

FIG 9

this in FIG 8 corner element shown with a seal arranged above it,

FIG 10

the input and output device in a sectional view, and

FIG 11

the input and output device in a perspective rear view showing holding or mounting surfaces.

According to the FIG 1 an input and output device 100 is shown in the form of a touch panel PC. The input and output device 100 has a touch surface 60 as a touch screen. The touch screen is enclosed in a frame 1 which is made from a frame profile 10. For a later installation in a mounting cutout, a retaining groove 22 is incorporated into the frame profile, in which a clamp 62 is arranged.

With the FIG 2 is a framework 1 for according to FIG 1 The input and output device 100 shown with four corners A, B, C, D are shown. According to the invention, the frame profile 10 is formed in one piece, the frame profile 10 having a first leg S1 and a second leg S2. A flat band 20 is arranged on the first leg S1. The band 20 later serves as a circumferential rounded device edge. In order to form the four corners A, B, C, D, free spaces 11, 12, 13, 14 are arranged in the frame profile 10 in such a way that the band 20 remains in the area of the free spaces 11, 12, 13, 14. A groove 21 is arranged on the second leg S2 (see FIG FIG 4 ).

The production of a frame 1 according to FIG 2 is explained below using the FIG 3 explained. According to FIG 3 a longitudinally extending frame profile 10 is shown. The frame profile 10 has an overall length l which corresponds to the later circumference of the frame 1. Accordingly, the frame profile 10 is now divided into five sections. The first section and the last section are each half of a first side a long and are therefore half as long as the length l1. The second section corresponds to side b and has the length l2. The third section corresponds to the third side c and has the length l3 and the fourth section corresponds to the side d and has the length l4. According to the method, a length l, which corresponds to the later circumference of the frame 1, was cut to length from a frame profile 10. Thereafter, according to the later side lengths l1, l2, l3, l4 of the frame 1 in the frame profile 10 to form the four corners A, B, C, D free spaces 11,12,13,14 are introduced such that the band 20 in the area The cutouts created by the free spaces 11,12,13,14 remain. The size of the free spaces 11, 12, 13, 14 is selected in such a way that the overbending required in a next step can succeed without any problems.

With the FIG 4 the second free space 12 associated with the second corner B is shown by way of example in a detailed illustration. The frame profile 10 shows the first leg S1 and the second leg S2 more clearly here. Essentially, the material is milled out of the frame profile 10 for the free space 12 in such a way that the circumferential band 20 remains as the later rounded frame. The free space 12 is milled out of the frame profile 10 as a segment. The band 20 thus forms an upper peripheral collar 20a and a lower peripheral collar 20b. Furthermore, the frame profile 10 has the already mentioned groove 21 for the later insertion of a corner element 32.

The FIG 5 shows them off FIG 4 known detail in a different view. Here it can be seen once again that the band 20 has an upper circumferential collar 20a and a lower one Forms circumferential collar 20b, the band 20 being rounded in its outer contour. A surface F of the first leg S1 later forms a surface F for applying a seal 50 and / or an adhesive surface 51 for inserting a contact surface 60. The contact surface 60 then corresponds, for example, to that for a display 61 (see FIG FIG 10 ) upstream touch screen.

According to FIG 6 the first corner element 31 is shown. The corner elements 31,32,33,34 are arranged in the free spaces 11,12,13,14 of the curved frame profile 10 and thus increase the stability of the frame 1. The corner element 31 has an element body 40 with a first element leg 41 and a second element leg 42 on. The element legs 41, 42 are arranged essentially at right angles to one another at a lower end 44 of the element body 40. An element head 43 is arranged at an upper end 45 of the element body 40. When inserted into the frame, the element head 43 serves to close the free spaces 11, 12, 13, 14 created by milling out the frame profile 10. Since its element legs 41, 42 are wedged in the groove 21 of the frame profile 10, the stability of the frame 1 is further increased.

The FIG 7 shows the frame 1 with the frame profile 10 in a perspective cross-sectional view. A first corner element 31 is inserted in the first corner A. The section through the frame profile 10 shows the circumferential band 20 with its upper peripheral collar 20a and its lower peripheral collar 20b. The holding groove 22 made in the second leg has an undercut so that a clamp 62 can later be fastened in this holding groove 22. Not only do the element legs 41, 42 come to rest at the corners in the groove 21, but also a rear wall hood 57 (see FIG FIG 10 ), which can consist of a sheet metal bent at the edges, can be inserted into the groove 21.

In addition, the frame profile 10 has a sheet metal mounting groove 23 for sheet metal 52,53,54,55 (see FIG 11 ) on.

With FIG 8 the inserted first corner element 31 in the first corner A is illustrated once again in a detailed representation. A seal 50 and an adhesive surface 51 will later come to rest on surface F. The inserted corner element 31, with its element head 43, serves to cleanly and flushly close the free space 11 in the frame profile 10 created by the milling out.

FIG 9 shows the inserted seal 50 in the first corner A. The seal 50 clings to the upper circumferential collar 20a formed by the band 20 and a gap between the surface F and a later inserted contact surface 60 is sealed by the seal 50.

FIG 10 shows an input and output device 100 in a sectional view. For wall mounting or mounting in a desk within an installation cutout, the frame 1 has a further seal 56 on its lower peripheral projection 20a. The seal 50 and an adhesive surface 51, to which the contact surface 60 is glued, are applied to the surface F of the frame 1. A display 61 is arranged below the contact surface 60, whereby a touch screen display is formed.

FIG 11 shows a further advantage of the frame profile 10, since the frame profile 10 has an additional circumferential mounting plate groove 23, a first mounting plate 52, a second mounting plate 53, a third mounting plate 54 and a fourth mounting plate 55 can be arranged in the mounting plate groove 23. The mounting plates 52,53,54 and 55 are brought together in the middle and serve as a carrier for a printed circuit board.

Claims (9)

1. Frame (1) for an input and output device (100), comprising four corners (A,B,C,D),
   consisting of a frame profile (10) embodied in one piece, which has a first leg (S1) and a second leg (S2), wherein

   - a strip (20) is arranged on the first leg (S1), and wherein open spaces (11,12,13,14) are arranged in the frame profile (10) to form the four corners (A,B,C,D) in such a manner that the strip (20) is left standing in the region of the open spaces (11,12,13,14), and

   - a groove (21) is arranged on the second leg (S2),

   wherein a corner element (31,32,33,34) is arranged in each of the corners (A,B,C,D), characterised in that the corner element (31,32,33,34) has an element body (40) with a first element leg (41) and a second element leg (42), wherein the element legs (41,42) are arranged substantially at right angles to one another on the element body (40) and the corner elements (31,32,33,34) are arranged in the open spaces (11,12,13,14) in such a manner that the first element leg (41) and the second element leg (42) are each arranged in the groove (21) of the frame profile (10).
2. Frame (1) according to claim 1, wherein the element legs (41, 42) are arranged at a lower end (44) of the element body (40) and an element head (43) is arranged at an upper end (45) of the element body (40), in which case the element head (43) is embodied in such a manner that it closes off the open space (11,12,13,14) in the corners (A,B,C,D) such that a flat surface (F) is present on the first leg (S1) within the frame (1) for applying a seal (50) and/or adhesive surface (51) for the subsequent introduction of a contact surface (60).
3. Frame (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the strip (20) is embodied as an upper circumferential collar (20a) for the frame (1) and the seal (50), which seals off the intermediate space between the surface (F) of the first leg (S1) and a boundary surface of the contact surface (60) to be subsequently introduced, is arranged in said upper circumferential collar (20a).
4. Frame (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the strip (20) is embodied as a lower circumferential collar (20b) for the frame (1) and a further seal (56), which seals off the intermediate space between a lower surface of the first leg (S1) and a boundary surface of an installation cutout, is arranged in said lower circumferential collar (20b).
5. Frame (1) according to claim 3, wherein a retaining groove (22) with an indentation is arranged in the second leg (S2), which is embodied such that a clamp (62) for installation in an installation cutout is to be fastened therein.
6. Frame (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame profile (10) is formed by an aluminium continuous casting profile.
7. Input and output device (100) for industrial use, comprising a frame (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6.
8. Method for manufacturing a frame (1) for an input and output device (100), wherein a frame profile (10) is used which has a first leg (S1) and a second leg (S2), wherein a strip (20) is arranged on the first leg (S1) and a groove (21) is arranged on the second leg (S2), wherein
   in a first step:

   - a length (l), which corresponds to the subsequent circumference of the frame (1), is cut to length by a frame profile (10), and in a second step:

   - according to the subsequent side lengths (11,12,13,14) of the frame (1), open spaces (11,12,13,14) are introduced into the frame profile (10) to form the four corners (A,B,C,D) in such a manner that the strip (20) is left standing in the region of the cutouts resulting from the open spaces (11,12,13,14), in which case the size of the open spaces (11,12,13,14) is chosen in such a manner that an overbending required in the subsequent step can succeed without interference, in a third step:

   - the corners (A,B,C,D) are bent at the points of the open spaces (11,12,13,14), in which case the sides (a,b,c,d) adjoining a corner (A,B,C,D) are overbent slightly beyond an angle of 90° in order to overcome a residual stress in the material and thus to prevent the sides (a,b,c,d) from springing back, in a fourth step:

   - a corner element (31,32,33,34) is then arranged in each of the corners (A,B,C,D), wherein the corner element (31,32,33,34) has an element body (40) with a first element leg (41) and a second element leg (42), wherein the element legs (41,42) are arranged substantially at right angles to one another on the element body (40) and the corner elements (31,32,33,34) are arranged in the open spaces (11,12,13,14) in such a manner that the first element leg (41) and the second element leg (42) are each arranged in the groove (21) of the frame profile (10), afterwards

   - a remaining impact face (35) is welded together.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein corner elements (31,32,33,34) are used, in which the element legs (41,42) are arranged at a lower end (44) of the element body (40) and an element head (43) is arranged at an upper end (45) of the element body (40), wherein the element head (43) is placed in the corners (A,B,C,D) in the open space (11,12,13,14) in such a manner that it closes this off flushly, meaning that a flat surface is created on the first leg (S1) within the frame (1) for applying a seal (50) and/or adhesive surface (51) for the subsequent introduction of a contact surface (60).

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